So here’s the contrarian perspective: It is insanely hard to make a living as a professional cyclist. If you make a team, you can just scrape by unless you truly make it in which case you might earn about as much as a mediocre soccer player in UK’s second division. This reality means that the penalty for not making a team is not only missing out on your dream but also on a means to make a living which in turn makes it very attractive to cross the PED line (especially when you know quite a few of those on the team have done so). Not saying doping is or should be acceptable / condoned but do feel it is understandable and could honestly not say I would not cross that line if living their reality. Given that sentiment, I do not have hard feelings towards guys and girls who got caught. They went too far and paid a price and that could have happened to me if I would have been blessed with their type of legs.
